ARCATA - A season of returning to the pitch will come to the end this weekend for the Humbold State men's soccer team.
After the having no season last year, the 2013 campaign has been one of much anticipation and some successes.
As with every end of the year, the Lumberjacks will see five members of the roster play in their final pair of collegiate soccer matches with a Friday night road contest at Cal State Stanislaus, before a Sunday 'Senior Day' against Sonoma State.
Jacks have tough Bay weekend
On last Friday in a battle of two of the CCAA's top scorers, HSU's Zach Hammond saw his goal answered by Sonoma State's Taylor Varnadore's six-point day to take the victory.
In a weekend where a loss could not be suffered, the Jacks were unable to secure a victory in either end of the weekend road swing to the Bay Area.
Hammond gave the Jacks the first half lead for what turned out to be six minutes, before Varnadore tied it to begin his big day for the Seawolves.
Deadlocked at one apiece, Varnadore assisted on the go ahead score five minutes into the second half and added a second goal and assist to complete a 4-1 men's soccer victory.
Two days later, HSU put eight shots on goal, but saw all fly high or wide in an array of attempts to tie Sunday's match.
Cal State East Bay rode Javier Martin's two first half goals and held off the HSU second half attempts for the 2-1 victory.
Trailing 2-0 out of the half, the Lumberjacks' Ryan Connor shot was saved 3:16 into the second half.
HSU's early charge did not stop as Austin Swartz found the goal for the first time on the year less than four minutes later at 52:07 off a loose ball he would redirect into the corner of the goal.
Over the final 29:43, the Jacks directed eight more shots at the Pioneers' goal, but to no avail.
Four Jacks end careers
Following many hours of hard work, the collegiate playing careers of five players - Ryan Ades, Quinton Aguilar, Peter Darquea, Zach Hammond and Dan Mariani - will wrap up on Sunday.
The five players have already tied the most seasons wins for season in their careers with six this season.
Goalie Ryan Ades has seen 865 minutes in goal this year, where he has saved 39 shots with three wins.
Peter Darquea is the stalwart of the HSU defense at back. He has one assist this season.
Midfielde Mariani have bolstered the position this fall. Mariani netted a goal in each of the squad's first two contests this season. The senior attempted 10 shots with five on goal over 12 matches on the year.
Final senior -- Hammond leads CCAA scoring
The final HSU senior is Zach Hammond, who leads the CCAA in scoring this year.
After leading the Jacks two years ago with 20 points, the Redmond, Wash. product took his production to another level this year.
Hammond leads the league in both goals (12) and shots (53), while second in points (27). His 12 goals this season tie him for fourth most in a Jacks season.
Over his career, the forward has recorded 19 goals and 12 assists for 50 points.
His 19 career goals tie him for eighth on the HSU all-time goal scoring list.
HSU looks for most wins in five years
The playoffs may not be a possibility any longer but HSU can post its best season in five years with a win in one of the program's last two matches.
With a win, the Jacks would have seven wins and the most victories since going 8-8-4 in 2008 and surpass 2009's 6-10-4 mark. A win would also tie the team's most CCAA wins since 2009 (5-8-3).
Weekend's CCAA matches
at Cal State Stanislaus (Fri. at 4:30 p.m.):
Season Record: 6-8-0/7-8-1 CCAA North
Series History: HSU leads 25-22-2
Last meeting: CSUS won 3-2 in overtime on Sept. 22 in Arcata ... After CSUS led 2-0 at the half, HSU put together two goals in the final 43 minutes. Jordan Zogg put in the first, before Mitch Butt fired in the game-tying tally at 72:37. The win would escape HSU as the Warriors' Jose Ramirez scored for the second time in the match at 98:26 of the first overtime.
Last HSU win: 2-1 in first meeting of the 2006 season in Arcata
*Coached by 5th-year Dana Taylor
*Warriors had their three-match win streak snapped last Sunday in a 2-1 loss to Sonoma State
*Started last weekend with a 2-0 shutout at Cal State East Bay
*Scored at least two goals in seven of 16 matches
*Carlos Gavino leads team with five goals and four assists as well as 23 shots and 14 on goal
*Goalie Clint Long rates 3rd in CCAA with 71 saves
vs. Sonoma State (Sun. at 2:00 p.m.):
Season Record: 8-4-4/7-4-3 CCAA North
Series History: SSU leads 30-17-7
Last meeting: SSU 4-1 win last Friday, Oct. 25 in Rohnert Park
Last HSU win: 4-1 in 2nd meeting of 1996 season in Arcata ... tied both meetings (1-1 and 0-0) to end the 2009 season
*Coached by 23rd-year Marcus Ziemer ... compiled a 297-136-49 record
*Seawolves went 2-0 last weekend and are 4-0-2 over their previous six contests.
-After a 4-1 win over HSU, edged Cal State Stanislaus, 2-1, on Sunday
*Taylor Varnadore jumped to being tied for 3rd in goals (9) with a big last weekend ... also is 4th in points (20) and second in shots (47)
